"to the salamander. This discovery was the starting point of research about neoteny. It is not certain that ""Ambystoma velasci"" specimens were not included in the original shipment. Vilem Laufberger in Prague used thyroid hormone injections to induce an axolotl to grow into a terrestrial adult salamander. The experiment was repeated by Englishman Julian Huxley, who was unaware the experiment had already been done, using ground thyroids. Since then, experiments have been done often with injections of iodine or various thyroid hormones used to induce metamorphosis. Today, the axolotl is still used in research as a model organism, and large"
"Axolotl The axolotl (, from ; plural axolotls or rarely axolomeh), ""Ambystoma mexicanum"", also known as the Mexican walking fish, is a neotenic salamander related to the tiger salamander. Although the axolotl is colloquially known as a ""walking fish"", it is not a fish, but an amphibian. The species was originally found in several lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City. Axolotls are unusual among amphibians in that they reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis. Instead of developing lungs and taking to the land, adults remain aquatic and gilled. Axolotls should not be confused with waterdogs, the larval stage of"
"Herbert. Argentine writer Julio Cortázar included a short story entitled ""Axolotl"" in his 1956 collection ""Final del juego"". The story concerns a man who becomes obsessed with the salamanders after viewing them in an aquarium in Paris. In the Netflix series Bojack Horseman, there is an anthropomorphic axolotl character named Yolanda Buenaventura voiced by Natalie Morales. Axolotl The axolotl (, from ; plural axolotls or rarely axolomeh), ""Ambystoma mexicanum"", also known as the Mexican walking fish, is a neotenic salamander related to the tiger salamander. Although the axolotl is colloquially known as a ""walking fish"", it is not a fish,"
"incarnation of the god Xolotl, brother of Quetzalcoatl. It has been studied due to its abilities to regenerate limbs and other body parts. It can also reach sexual maturity as a larva, which no other amphibian can do. While mostly aquatic, it does have limited ability to breathe air. As of 2003, there were only 600 axolotls known to exist in the wild. Most of the threat to the species is loss of habitat and pollution, but the introduction of non-native fish such as tilapia has also had disastrous effects on the population of this and other species. Conservation efforts"
"psychopomp, Xolotl would guide the dead on their journey to Mictlan the afterlife in myths. His two spirit animal forms are the Xoloitzcuintli dog and the water salamander species known as the Axolotl. Xolos served as companions to the Aztecs in this life and also in the after-life, as many dog remains and dog sculptures have been found in Aztec burials, including some at the main temple in Tenochtitlan. Dogs were often victims of ritual sacrifice so that they could accompany their master on his voyage through Mictlan, the underworld. Their main duty was to help their owners cross a"
"Their habitat is like that of most neotenic species—a high altitude body of water surrounded by a risky terrestrial environment. These conditions are thought to favor neoteny. However, a terrestrial population of Mexican tiger salamanders occupies and breeds in the axolotl's habitat. The axolotl is carnivorous, consuming small prey such as worms, insects, and small fish in the wild. Axolotls locate food by smell, and will ""snap"" at any potential meal, sucking the food into their stomachs with vacuum force. Axolotls exhibit neoteny, meaning that they reach sexual maturity without undergoing metamorphosis. Many species within the axolotl's genus are either"
"consequently began slaying all other gods to induce the newly created Sun into movement. Xolotl, however, was unwilling to die in order to give movement to the new Sun. Xolotl transformed himself into a young maize plant with two stalks (xolotl), a doubled maguey plant (mexolotl), and an amphibious animal (axolotl). Xolotl is thus a master transformer. In the end, Ehecatl succeeded in finding and killing Xolotl. In art, Xolotl was typically depicted as a dog-headed man, a skeleton, or a deformed monster with reversed feet. An incense burner in the form of a skeletal canine depicts Xolotl. As a"
"the pet trade, especially white/pink animals with pink eyes that are double homozygous mutants for both the albino and leucistic trait. Axolotls also have some limited ability to alter their color to provide better camouflage by changing the relative size and thickness of their melanophores. The axolotl is only native to Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in the Valley of Mexico. Lake Chalco no longer exists, as it was artificially drained to avoid periodic flooding, and Lake Xochimilco remains a remnant of its former self, existing mainly as canals. The water temperature in Xochimilco rarely rises above , though it"
"from Nahuatl, the Aztec language. One translation of the name connects the Axolotl to Xolotl. The most common translation is ""water-dog"" . ""Atl"" for water and ""Xolotl"" for dog. In the Aztec calendar, the ruler of the day, Itzcuintli (""Dog""), is Mictlantecuhtli, the god of death and lord of Mictlan, the afterlife. Xolotl is sometimes depicted carrying a torch in the surviving Maya codices, which reference the Maya tradition that the dog brought fire to mankind. In the Mayan codices, the dog is conspicuously associated with the god of death, storm, and lightning. Xolotl appears to have affinities with the"
"axolotls might seek out appropriately-sized gravel for use as gastroliths based on experiments conducted at the University of Manitoba axolotl colony. ""Axolotl"" is one of a number of words, mostly of foreign origin, adopted by ""Mad"" Magazine as nonsense words for use as running gags; ""potrzebie"" and ""veeblefetzer"" are two others. These achieved some popularity with readers of the magazine; see for example the discussion of a poem (quoted in full) centering on the word. The axolotl's real world ability to regrow limbs served as the inspiration for the Tleilaxu axlotl tanks in the fictional ""Dune"" universe created by Frank"
"the closely related tiger salamanders (""A. tigrinum"" and ""A. mavortium""), which are widespread in much of North America and occasionally become neotenic. Neither should they be confused with mudpuppies (""Necturus"" spp.), fully aquatic salamanders that are not closely related to the axolotl but bear a superficial resemblance. , wild axolotls were near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and perch. They are currently listed by CITES as an endangered species and by IUCN as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population. Axolotls"
"for the salamanders. A sexually mature adult axolotl, at age 18–24 months, ranges in length from , although a size close to is most common and greater than is rare. Axolotls possess features typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a caudal fin extending from behind the head to the vent. Their heads are wide, and their eyes are lidless. Their limbs are underdeveloped and possess long, thin digits. Males are identified by their swollen cloacae lined with papillae, while females are noticeable for their wider bodies full of eggs. Three pairs of external gill stalks (rami) originate behind"
"tapwater, is harmful to axolotls. A single axolotl typically requires a tank with a water depth of at least . Axolotls spend the majority of the time at the bottom of the tank. Salts, such as Holtfreter's solution, are usually added to the water to prevent infection. In captivity, axolotls eat a variety of readily available foods, including trout and salmon pellets, frozen or live bloodworms, earthworms, and waxworms. Axolotls can also eat feeder fish, but care should be taken as fish may contain parasites. Substrates are another important consideration for captive axolotls, as axolotls (like other amphibians and reptiles)"
"Akhlut In Inuit mythology, Akhlut is an orca spirit that takes the form of a gigantic wolf or a wolf-orca hybrid when on land. It is a vicious, dangerous beast that ventured onto land in order to hunt humans and other animals. Its tracks can be recognized because they are wolf tracks that lead to and from the ocean, indicating that the creature is waiting for prey under the water nearby. Often, dogs seen walking to the ocean and/or into it are considered evil. Little is known of this spirit other than that it changes from an orca to a"
"times that observed in human (1,750 bp), mouse (1,469 bp) and Tibetan frog (906 bp), respectively. The axolotl is a popular exotic pet like its relative, the tiger salamander (""Ambystoma tigerinum""). As for all poikilothermic organisms, lower temperatures result in slower metabolism and a very unhealthily reduced appetite. Temperatures at approximately to are suggested for captive axolotls to ensure sufficient food intake; stress resulting from more than a day's exposure to lower temperatures may quickly lead to disease and death, and temperatures higher than may lead to metabolic rate increase, also causing stress and eventually death. Chlorine, commonly added to"
"may fall to 6 to 7 °C in the winter, and perhaps lower. The wild population has been put under heavy pressure by the growth of Mexico City. The axolotl is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's annual Red List of threatened species. Non-native fish, such as African tilapia and Asian carp, have also recently been introduced to the waters. These new fish have been eating the axolotls' young, as well as its primary source of food. Axolotls are members of the tiger salamander, or ""Ambystoma tigrinum"" species complex, along with all other Mexican species of ""Ambystoma""."
"animals. According to Aztec mythology, the god Xolotl made the Xoloitzcuintli from a sliver of the Bone of Life from which all mankind was made. Xolotl gave this gift to Man with the instruction to guard it with his life and in exchange it would guide Man through the dangers of Mictlan, the world of Death, toward the Evening Star in the Heavens. Some people in Mexico continue to believe this breed has healing qualities. The Aztecs also raised the breed for their meat. Sixteenth-century Spanish accounts tell of large numbers of dogs being served at banquets. Aztec Merchant feasts"
"Ahuizotl (mythology) The ahuizotl (from the for ""spiny aquatic thing"") is a legendary creature in Aztec myth. The creature is described as dog-like, its waterproof fur often clumping up to create spikes (hence its name). The ahuizotl has hands capable of manipulation and an additional hand on its tail. The ahuizotl is feared due to its liking for human flesh, especially nails, eyes, and teeth. It is said to live in or near the water and to use the hand on the end of its tail to snatch its prey, dragging the person into the depths to drown them. Victims"
"in certain cases, more vital structures. Some have indeed been found restoring the less vital parts of their brains. They can also readily accept transplants from other individuals, including eyes and parts of the brain—restoring these alien organs to full functionality. In some cases, axolotls have been known to repair a damaged limb, as well as regenerating an additional one, ending up with an extra appendage that makes them attractive to pet owners as a novelty. In metamorphosed individuals, however, the ability to regenerate is greatly diminished. The axolotl is therefore used as a model for the development of limbs"
"previous creations. Xolotl descended to the underworld to steal these bones so that man could be reborn in the new creation of the Fifth Sun. Xolotl managed to recover the bones and brought man to life by piercing his penis and bleeding upon them. Xolotl was seen as an incarnation of the planet Venus as the Evening Star (the Morning Star was his twin brother Quetzalcoatl). Xolotl was the canine companion of the Sun, following its path through both the sky and the underworld. Xolotl's strong connection with the underworld, death and the dead is demonstrated by the symbols he"
"which we learned to Eat from them, and few were there of us but what allow'd that a South Sea dog was next to an English Lamb."" The Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo for short, is a hairless breed of dog, found in toy, miniature and standard sizes.The Xolo also comes in a coated variety and all three sizes can be born to a single litter. It is also known as Mexican hairless dog in English speaking countries, is one of several breeds of hairless dog and has been used as a historical source of food for the Aztec Empire. In 2015,"
"deep river. It is possible that dog sculptures also found in burials were also intended to help people on this journey. Xoloitzcuintli is the official name of the Mexican Hairless Dog (also known as ""perro pelón mexicano"" in Mexican Spanish), a pre-Columbian canine breed from Mesoamerica dating back to over 3500 years ago. This is one of many native dog breeds in the Americas and it is often confused with the Peruvian Hairless Dog. The name ""Xoloitzcuintli"" references Xolotl because this dog's mission was to accompany the souls of the dead in their journey into eternity. The name ""Axolotl"" comes"
"to the North American jackalope and Austrian rauracl. People often use the rasselbock in conversation to try to humiliate an older or more experienced person by rhetorically asking if they would like to go catch the creatures. Rasselbock The rasselbock or rarely raspelbock (""Hirculus crepans austriae"")(in America called a Jackalope) is a mythological animal, often depicted in such locations as hunting lodges. It has the head and body of a rabbit, and the antlers of a roe deer. The female counterpart of the rasselbock is the Rasselgeiß, which have smaller antlers. Some rasselbocks have been known to be shown with"
"of the ahuizotl, Aztec beliefs state, are destined for the paradise of the god Tlaloc. The ahuizotl included within Book 11 of the Florentine Codex, which describes it as: Ahuizotl (mythology) The ahuizotl (from the for ""spiny aquatic thing"") is a legendary creature in Aztec myth. The creature is described as dog-like, its waterproof fur often clumping up to create spikes (hence its name). The ahuizotl has hands capable of manipulation and an additional hand on its tail. The ahuizotl is feared due to its liking for human flesh, especially nails, eyes, and teeth. It is said to live in"
"are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs. Axolotls were also sold as food in Mexican markets and were a staple in the Aztec diet. Surveys in 1998, 2003, and 2008 found 6,000, 1,000, and 100 axolotls per square kilometer in its Lake Xochimilco habitat, respectively. A four-month-long search in 2013, however, turned up no surviving individuals in the wild. Just a month later, two wild ones were spotted in a network of canals leading from Xochimilco. The city is currently working on conserving axolotls by building ""axolotl shelters"" and conserving remaining and potential habitats"
"their heads and are used to move oxygenated water. The external gill rami are lined with filaments (fimbriae) to increase surface area for gas exchange. Four gill slits lined with gill rakers are hidden underneath the external gills. Axolotls have barely visible vestigial teeth, which would have developed during metamorphosis. The primary method of feeding is by suction, during which their rakers interlock to close the gill slits. External gills are used for respiration, although buccal pumping (gulping air from the surface) may also be used to provide oxygen to their lungs. Axolotls have four pigmentation genes; when mutated they"
"Aquilonites Aquilonites is a pericyclacean goniatitid belonging to the Family Intoceratidae, suborder Goniatitina, that lived during the very early Carboniferous of what is now Russia. [1] ""Aquilonites"" has a subdiscoidal, involute shell with a small to very narrow umbulicus, covered by biconvex growth lines and sometimes weak lirae. The ventral lobe of the suture is very narrow, with straight, almost parallel or slightly sigmoidal sides. The first outer saddle is rounded and somewhat wider than ventral lobe, the lateral lobe short and bowl shaped.[2] ""Aquilonites"" is found in the Tournaisian age Kugutyk Formation in Orenburg, Russian Federation [3], in what"
"now considered separate species. Genetic studies made it necessary to break up the original ""A. tigrinum"" population, though some hybridization between groups occurs. The axolotl is also a relative of the tiger salamander. Axolotls live in a paedomorphic state, retaining most characteristics of their larval stage for their entire lifespans. While they never metamorphose under natural conditions, metamorphosis can be induced in them, resulting in a form very similar to the plateau tiger salamander. This is not, however, their natural condition, and dramatically shortens their lifespan. Tiger salamander The tiger salamander or eastern tiger salamander (""Ambystoma tigrinum"") is a North"
"Ocelot The ocelot (""Leopardus pardalis"") is a wild cat native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as the population is estimated to comprise more than 40,000 mature individuals and is considered stable. Its fur was once regarded as particularly valuable, but legal trade of its fur ceased decades ago. In the United States, it inhabits southern Texas and southern Arizona. The scientific name of the ocelot is ""Leopardus pardalis"". It is a member of the genus ""Leopardus"" of the family Felidae. The species was first"
"include research and environmental education. The Grupo de Investigación del Ajolote en Xochimilco (GIA-X) is a nonprofit research group dedicated to the preservation of the axolotl, which is in danger of extinction. It works to better understand the creature as well as with the local community to protect what is left of its habitat. In addition to species that live in the area year round, the wetlands here host about forty percent of the migratory bird species that arrive to Mexico, roughly 350, use the wet areas around Xochimilco for nesting. Many of these come from the United States and"
"Xolotl In Aztec mythology, Xolotl () was the god with associations to both lightning and death. He was associated with the sunset and would guard the Sun as it traveled through the underworld every night. Dogs were associated with Xolotl. This deity and a dog were believed to lead the soul on its journey to the underworld. He was commonly depicted as a monstrous dog. Xolotl was the god of fire and lightning. He was also god of twins, monsters, misfortune, sickness, and deformities. Xolotl is the canine brother and twin of Quetzalcoatl, the pair being sons of the virgin"
"sewage. However, the axolotl has the benefit of being raised in farms for the purpose of research facilities. So there is still a chance that they may be able to return to their natural habitat. The recent decline in population has substantially impacted genetic diversity among populations of axolotl, making it difficult to further progress scientifically. It is important to note that although there is a level of limited genetic diversity due to ""Ambystoma"" populations, such as the axolotl, being paedeomorphic species, it does not account for the overall lack of diversity. There is evidence that points towards a historical"
"tend to ingest bedding material together with food and are commonly prone to gastrointestinal obstruction and foreign body ingestion. Some common substrates used for animal enclosures can be harmful for amphibians and reptiles. If gravel (common in aquarium use) is used, it is recommended that it consist of smooth particles of a size small enough to pass through the digestive tract. One guide to axolotl care for laboratories notes that bowel obstructions are a common cause of death, and recommends that no items with a diameter below 3 cm should be available to the animal. There is some evidence that"